After the 2008 Olympic Games, USA Wrestling underwent a change in culture and leadership. The program sought to rebuild itself to best develop American talent and keep that talent in the sport after they reached their goals. In 2009 and 2010, the US senior men’s freestyle team had zero gold medalists. But in 2011, Nebraska’s Jordan Burroughs won gold at 74 kg in his very first international senior freestyle tournament.
Since then, Burroughs has collected one Olympic title, four World gold medals and two bronze in his eight appearances as the US representative at 74 kg. Beyond that, Burroughs grew into a crucial leadership role for the program, carrying the sport of wrestling not just with victories on the mat, but by dedicating himself to the craft of motivational prose and spoken word.